Meridian attachment for solar transits.



" No. 709,289. j Patented seni ls, I902.

- .1. H. Y0U NG..

MERIDIAN ATTACHMENT FOR SOLA B TBANSITSA (Application filed Nov. so,1901.,

(No Model.)

fitter/nap U ITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

JAMES H. YOUNG, OF PENSAUKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ALFRED C. YOUNG,OFPHILADELPI-IIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MERIDIA'NATTACHMENT FOR SOLAR TRANSITS.

SPECIFIGATIONIdrming part of Letters Patent No. 709,289, dated September16, 1902.

Application filed November 30, 1901. Serial No. 84,217. (No model.)

plate, which latter is pivoted between the standards which support thetelescope and having a latitude-arc connected therewith in the form of aquadrant and a declination-arc suitably connected with said telescope ata point between the supports and which is adapted to revolve in'a planeoutside of the plane of said standards.

I am aware that a telescope provided with a reflector anddeclination-arc attached to a latitude-arc and revolving in collars as apart of a meridian attachment is not in itself new; but the conformationof the latitude-arc as heretofore used made it necessarily small inradius and the graduations thereon difficult to read and would notpermit an increase in the radius of the arcs without a material increasein the Weight and bulk of the meridian attachment.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a portion of a transit and atelescope and arcs attached thereto embodying my invention. Fig. 2represents theappearance of the sun in. the field of view of thetelescope. Fig. 3 represents a diagrammatic view showing a reflectoremployed in front of the object-glass of the'telescope.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in thefigures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the feet supporting the usualplate 13 of a transit from which arises the standards 0, which carry thetelescope D.

E designates a solar telescope revolving in suitable collars F, whichare properly supported, being mounted on a plate N, which is pivoted atP to a bar Q, whereby the te1escope E can be rotated independent of thetelescope D, said bar Q forming part of or secured to the standard 0,substantially at an equal distance therebetween, it being further notedthat the pivotal point P is situated be tween said collars F, whereby astrong and durable structure results and the weight being equallydistributed prevents improper 'movement of the parts.

G designates a declination-arc, which is secured to the side of thetelescope E, between the collars F, and is provided with a Vernier H,which is carried by an arm J, which turns on a suitable axis beyond theobj cot-glass end of the telescope E and extends therefrom toward theeyepiece of the said telescope, and thus the Vernier moves in aplanebetween the collars F, a reflector K being carried thereby which isturned on its axis in front of the object-glass of the telescope.

L designates a latitude-arc having a horizontal axis which is suitablysupported, being secured to or forming part of said plate N, and whichare is in the form of a quadrant, it being seen that the axis of the armJ is within a circle the center of which is the center of the quadrantor latitude-arc L, it being further noted that the said telescope E canrevolve and carries with it the declination-arc G, which moves in aplane outside of the planeof said standards 0. Suitable screws give slowmotion to the various parts.

M designates an hour-arc which is suitably secured to the tube of thetelescope E, the indicator or pointer being attached to one of thecollars in which the telescope revolves.

It will be further seen that by reason of the construction as presentedthe latitude-arc is increased in size, whereby the radius is increasedand the graduations on the said are are more legible, and thedeclination-arc is also increased, whereby the graduations are largerand are thus more legible, thereby increasing the efficiency of theattachment without increasing the weight or bulk. It will-be furtherseen that by reason of the construction as presented the solar transitis adapted to revolve in collars which are pivoted to a plate, thelatter being suitably pivoted at a point between the standards whichsupport the transit and in substantially a line with the axis of supportof said telescope, and that the declination-arc is attached to saidsolar telescope at a point between the collars, whereby it will be seenthat the construction is one tending to prevent improper movement of theparts, since the same are properly balanced, and that the compactness ofthe device and the ease of operation of the same is increased.

It will be evident that by reason of the shape of the latitude-arc thesolar telescope is attached thereto in such position as to bring thesolar reflector near the center of the are, thereby permitting thedeclinationarc to be revolved, as above stated.

To determine true meridian with this instrument, set off the latitudeand declination and the hour arc to the approximate time the sun cangenerally be brought into the field of view by simplyrevolving thetransit on its vertical axis. The transit being clamped,the sun maybebrought accurately between the equatorial Wires with thetangent-screws,at which time the solar telescope and also the transit telescopeparallel to it will be in the plane of the meridian.

It will be evident that various changes may be made by those skilled inthe art which will come within the scope of my invention, and I do not,therefore, desire to be limited in every instance to the exactconstruction herein shown and'described.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a solar transit, a telescope,standards supporting the same, a solar telescope suitably'pivoted at apoint between said standards and moving independently of saidfirstmentioned telescope, a latitude-arc in the form of a quadrantconnected and moving with said solar telescope, and a declinationaresuitably connected with said solar telescope and adapted to revolve in aplane outside of the plane of said standards.

2. In a solar transit, a telescope, standards supporting the same, aplate pivoted at a point between said standards, collars on said plateon opposite sides of the pivotal point of said plate, a solar telescoperevoluble in said collars, a latitude-arc connected with said plate, anda declination-arc and Vernier on said solar telescope between saidcollars, whereby the weight thereof will be distributed equally andimproper operation of the parts will be obviated.

JAMES H. YOUNG.

Witnesses:

WM. CANER WIEDERSHEIM, JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM.

